Line cleaning equipment



April 14; 1964 F. E. MORRIS 3,128,779

3 Sheets-Sheet 1 D II 46 44 38 49 /3 66' 67 .55 v 1/ 1/ 1 I/ V v v v 4545 ,50 8 I \5/ 52 .53 63 FIG. I

FIG. 2

FRANK E. MORRIS INVENTOR.

April 14, 1964 F. E. MORRIS 3,128,779 LINE CLEANING EQUIPMENT OriginalFiled Dec. 21, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FRANK E. MORRIS INVENTOR.

ATTOR F. E. MORRIS LINE CLEANING EQUIPMENT April 14, 1964 Original FiledDec.

3 Sheets-Sheet 3 SUPPLY L/Nf J United States Patent Ofiflce 3,128,779Patented Apr. 14., 1964 3,128,779 LINE (JLEANING EQUIPMENT Frank E.Morris, 4435 NE. Prescott St., Portland, Oreg. Original application Dec.21, 1953, Ser. No. 399,492, new Patent No. 2,974,071, elated Mar. 7,1961. Divided and this application Mar. 2, 1961, Ser. No. 92,895

7 Claims. (Cl. 134-107) My invention relates to providing improvementsin line cleaning and freeing equipment for use in cleaning fuel oilsupply, return and vent lines, plumbing waste lines and lines of allcategories and uses which are subject to clogging by reason of theaccumulation of residues formed from the intermingling of oil products,gasoline, Water or vapor or condensation within said lines whichgradually create a sludge formation resulting in a blocking andrestriction of said lines.

One object of my invention is to provide means for cleaning and freeingfuel oil supply, return and vent lines and plumbing waste lines whichare ordinarily buried beneath earth, concrete or in other Waysinaccessible without the necessity of uncovering said lines or openingthe fuel supply tank in the case of fuel supply, vent, or return lines.

Another object of my invention is to provide portable equipment that maybe taken from location to location which is capable of cleaning andfreeing more than one line at a time without the necessity of attachingthe device to and removing it from each line as it is to be cleaned orto Work on another line of a fuel oil system.

A further object of my invention is to provide portable equipment andmeans for cleaning and freeing fuel oil supply, return and vent linesand plumbing waste lines in a relatively short period of time withoutthe necessity of taking the fuel oil supply system or waste lines out ofservice for a long period of time.

This application is a division of my copending application for LineCleaning Equipment and Process, Serial No. 399,492, filed December 21,1953, now Patent No. 2,974,- 071, which was restricted to a LineCleaning Process.

Referring to the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of the pressure tank and oil and solventheating receptacle with a portion of the side broken away, so as to showthe steam heating coil there in. This view also shows three of themultiple heads in position, the air suction ejector attached for use,the air pressure line running into the upper multiple head, the fillpipe, temperature gauges, pressure gauges and operating valves, etc.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the heating and pressure reservoir tank,showing three of the multiple heads in position, the pressure gauges,the air suction ejector in position, the automatic safety valve, and theoperating valves of the multiple heads.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a portion of the heating and pressure reservoirtank, showing the tandem arrangement of two of the multiple heads set upwith the attaclnnent for shooting chemical into a fuel oil supply tankon one of the multiple head outlets and also the suction and returnlines of a fuel supply system attached thereto, the reversible, variablespeed pump and the second of the multiple heads showing parts of linesgoing to three separate sources of deposit for chemical, fuel oil anddissolved sludge withdrawn from the lines.

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of an arrangement for connecting atypical steamer directly with a preheating device which is designed forinsertion through the fill pipe into a fuel oil tank.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the tank preheating device taken in thedirection of the arrows along the line 5-5 of FIG. 4, showing thegenerally spiral design of the end of said preheating device. The steamreturn pipe is not shown in this View.

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of a portion of a fuel supply tankwith part of said tank broken away, so as to reveal the suction line andfoot valve on the end thereof and the return line of a fuel supply tank.This View also shows a vent line with a portion thereof broken away.

FIG. 7 is a side elevational View in section of a preheating andreheating receptacle showing the water jacket, the oil compartment, thesteam heated coil within the oil compartment and a drain outlet for theoil compartment.

FIG. Sis a schematic or diagrammatic view showing the connection andrelation of the pressure reservoir tank and manifolds shown in FIGS. 1to 3 inclusive, the steamer and the tank pre-heater shown in FIG. 4, thesupply tank shown in FIG. 6, the pro-heating and reheating receptacleshown in FIG. 7 and the vent, supply and return lines of a fuel oilheating system. The various gauges have been omitted from this figurefor reasons of clarity.

Referring further to the drawings:

The reservoir pressure tank it) is equipped with a heat exchanging coil11 whose inlet end 12 and outlet end 13 protrude from the end 14 of thesaid tank 10. A fill pipe 15 is located on the end 14 of the said tank10 and is equipped with a cap 15. Legs 17 support the reservoir pressuretank iii, and a drain plug 18 is located on the bottom side of said tankbetween the legs 17. A temperature gauge 19 is connected to the end 20of said tank 10. An inlet pipe 21 is situated in the center of the upperside of said tank 10 to which is coupled a short length of pipe 22. Aconventional four-way plumbing cross 23 is threaded to the top of thepipe 22. A pressure gauge 24 is threaded to the top of the cross 23.Immediately adjacent to the cross 23 and on the left hand side thereofis coupled a screw type valve 25. A lever operated butterfly type valve26 is then coupled to the valve 25 at the end thereof opposite the cross23. A length of hose 2'7 is coupled to the butterfly type valve at theend thereof opposite the valve 25. Immediately adjacent to the cross 23,as shown in FIG. 1, is coupled a typical crosshead which is formed outof a conventional plumbing cross such as the cross 23. Immediatelyadjacent to the cross-head and on the right hand side thereof oppositethe cross 23 is coupled a screw type valve 28. Immediately adjacent tothis valve and opposite the end coupled to the typical plumbing cross iscoupled a butterfly type valve 29. The other end of the butterfly typevalve 29 is coupled to a length of hose 30 in which is situated aconstant pressure inlet valve 31. The hose 30 is then attached to asource of compressed air. On one side of the typical cross-head 32 iscoupled a safety valve 33. On the opposite end of the cross-head 32 fromthe valve 33 is coupled a screw type valve 34 to which in turn iscoupled a butterfly type valve 35. A length of hose 36 is coupled to theopposite end of the valve 35, said length of hose 36 in turn beingcoupled to an air operated ejector 37. The end 37a of the air suctionejector deposits Withdrawn oil, dissolved sludge, etc. in a waste barrelnot shown in the drawings. The leg 37b of the air suction ejector iscoupled to a butterfly valve 38 and a screw type valve 39 which iscoupled to one outlet of a typical crosshead 40. The opposite end of thefour-way cross-head 40 is coupled to another screw type valve 41 whichin turn is coupled to a butterfly type 42, the valve 42 being thencoupled to a supply line, a return line or a vent line, as the. user maydecide. In the center of the cross-head. 40 and on the top thereof islocated'a pressure gauge 43 on the left hand side of the cross-head 40,as shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings, a screw type valve 44 is coupled. Inturn a butterfly type valve 45 is coupled to the screw type valve 44. Astandard plumbing T 46 is then coupled to the butterfly type valve 45.The outlet 47 on the leg of the T 46 at the operators option is coupledto a suction line, return line or vent line. On the right hand side ofthe cross-head 40 as shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings a screw type valve48 is attached, to which in turn a butterfly type valve 49 is thenattached, the valve 49 then being coupled to an outlet pipe 50 on theend 20 of the reservoir pressure and heating tank 10. The outlet 50 onthe end 20 and the outlet 51 on the end 14 of the said tank are locatedat the lowermost point of the diameter of said pressure and heating tank10. A butterfly type valve 52 is coupled to the outlet pipe 51 on theend 14 of the reservoir pressure and heating tank 10. A screw type valve53 is then coupled to the butterfly type valve 52. A typical plumbingcross-head 54 is coupled to the valve 53; a pressure gauge 55 is screwedinto the middle of the cross-head 54. On the opposite side of thecrosshead 54 is coupled a screw type valve 56 to which is coupled abutterfly type valve 57. A conventional plumbing T 58 is then coupled tothe valve 57; leg 59 of the T 58 may be attached to a suction line, areturn line or a vent line at the operators option. To another side ofthe cross-head 54 is coupled a screw type valve 60 which is coupled to abutterfly type valve 61 which is coupled to a vent, suction, or returnline at the operators option. On the opposite side of the cross-head 54is coupled a screw type valve 62 which in turn is coupled to a butterflytype valve 63. The valve 63 is then coupled to a waste line, a returnline, a vent line or a suction line at the operators option. As shown inFIG. 3 of the drawings, a variable delivery reversible pump 64 iscoupled to the T 58. To the reversible pump 64 on the side opposite theT 58 is coupled a standard cross-head 65. The remaining three outlets ofthe cross-head 65 are equipped with a typical screw valve and butterflyvalve combination such as has been described in connection withcross-heads aforementioned in this specification. These outlets from thecross-heads 65 enable the operator at his option to withdraw hot oil andchemical and sludge from the line being cleaned and deposit it in awaste barrel, the preheating and reheating device, or the reservoirpressure and heating tank 10.

The combination of a cross-head coupled to a lower outlet of thepressure and heating tank 10, said cross-head being attached to a returnline, a suction line and a vent line or a chemical spraying device 66with a variable delivery reversible pump between said cross-head and anouter cross-head whose three outlets run to various places of depositfor the hot oil and chemical and sludge withdrawn from the lines isintended to be used on either end of the reservoir, pressure and heatingtank 10. Hence said tank 10 may be equipped at either end or both endssimultaneously with a tandem cross-head set-up with a reversiblevariable delivery pump between said cross-heads. By means of the saidreversible pump 64 the operator is also enabled to withdraw depositedchemical and oil from one of the places in which it has been depositedand run it back through the same or a different line from which it waswithdrawn. Thus by means of the reversible pump 64 and the pressuregauges 55 the operator is enabled through his pressure readings to tellwhen he has hit a plug in a line and then to back the hot chemical andoils up by means of said pump 64 causing it to be deposited in one ofthe receptacles serviced by the cross-head 65. He can again reverse thepump 64 forcing the hot oil and chemical against the plugged spot insaid line from which it was withdrawn, creating a ramming effect. Byalternating the pumping direction as above described, the chemical andoil solution tends to have a wiping or scouring effect on the lines tobe freed. If the operator so desires, in the use of the air ejector 37,a positively maintained predetermined pressure or suction can beattained in the withdrawing phase by setting the constant pressure valve31 at the pressure reading desired. The air ejector 37 is useful onlyfor the purpose of backing up or withdrawing the oil and chemicalsolution from the line or lines being freed. Thus, if it has beendetermined the lines are old or too weak to stand with safety more thana given amount of suction or pressure, that pressure may be establishedby means of the valve 31 or by controlling the speed or delivery of thepump 64, so that the operation can be carried out without the operatorhaving to worry about rupturing, collapsing, or damaging lines.

A tank spraying device 66 for shooting the inside of a fuel storage tankat various levels with a hot chemical cleaning and desludging solutionis provided at its end 67, which is generally circular in shape, with aplurality of holes 63 in the circular portion thereof. The terminologyshooting the inside of a fuel storage tank as used in this specificationis employed in the sense of disbursing hot oil, hot chemical and/or hotoil and chemical through and upon the interior of the fuel storage andsupply tank. By coupling the tank spraying device 66 to one of the threeoutlets on one of the inner cross-heads, such as crosshead 54, by meansof a hose 69, the inside of a fuel tank can be shot at various levelswith the hot chemical desludglng solution at a predetermined pressurewhich is controlled by the setting on the constant pressure inlet valve31. The tank spraying device 66 may be inserted through the fill pipe orthe manhole opening of the fuel tank.

A portable steamer 70 of any standard make or design, such as is shownin FIG. 4, is connected by means of a hose 71 to the inlet end 12 of theheat exchanger coil 11 in the reservoir, pressure and heating tank 10.The steamer 70 provides and generates the necessary heat which istransferred through the heat exchanger coil 11 to the hot chemical andoil solution in the reservoir pressure and heating tank 10. When thedesired temperature, as shown by the temperature gauge 19 on the end 20of the reservoir pressure and heating tank 10, has been obtained, theline gauge 31 is set at a predetermined pressure, and compressed air isintroduced through the hose 30, the valve 29, the valve 28, thecross-head 32, the vertical cross 23, the pipe 22 and the inlet opening21 into the reservoir pressure and heating tank 10. The operator byopening and closing the proper valves is ready to start freeing one ofthe lines connected to an outlet of an inner cross-head. As soon as thefirst line has been freed, which will be indicated by the change inpressure registered on the pressure gauges 43 or 55, the operator isthen immediately able to work on another line by merely opening andclosing the proper valves on the crosshead to make the desired outletaccessible to the hot chemical and oil solution in the reservoir,pressure and heating tank 10. Thus after the equipment has been set upand attached to the lines, which are in need of cleaning and freeing,the operator can carry on the whole operation by merely changing theopenings on valves and without the necessity of any further couplings oruncouplings until the job has been completed.

A tank preheater 72, as shown in FIG. 4, is coupled in one arrangementby lengths of hose 71 and directly to the steamer 70 and then insertedthrough the manhole of the fuel oil supply tank or indirectly incombination with other equipment, as shown in FIG. 8. The end 73 of thetank preheater 72 is generally spiral in design for the purpose ofobtaining a greater heating area within the fuel supply tank. The spiral73 emerges into the return pipe 74 of the tank preheater 72. The returnpipe 74 is coupled directly by means of said hose 75, or indirectlythrough hoses 71a, 71b and 75, to the return connection of the steamer70. The whole tank preheater 72 is constructed preferably of coppertubing.

A portion of a typical fuel oil supply tank 76 with a part thereofbroken away is shown in FIG. 6. A suction line 77 with a foot valve 78at the bottom thereof is shown in place in the tank 76. Also, a returnline 79 and vent line 86 are shown in place on the tank 76.

Oftentimes the source of trouble in a blocked fuel oil supply systemresides in the foot valve 78 which becomes lodged open by means ofsludge formations or particles of carbon. By attaching the end of thesuction line 77, which fastens to the burner of the heating unit, to oneof the outlets on one of the inner cross-heads of the tandem cross-headset-up, such as the cross-head 54, pressure and hot oil and chemicalsolution may be applied to the line and rammed back and forth, asdescribed above, until the line has been completely freed and scouredout, including the foot valve 78. This is accomplished without thenecessity of entering, opening or excavating the fuel oil supply tank orof excavating or uncovering the suction line, return line or vent lineof the heating system, as the case may be.

A typical vent line 80 has three 90 elbows 81, 32 and 83 inserted insuch a manner as to allow for the settling of the fuel oil tank 76 intoany direction without breaking the vent line 80. Oftentimes when a tanksettles the resulting angles created by the shifting of the vent linethrough the 90 elbows 81, 82 and 83 creates a low section in the ventline which becomes blocked by fuel oil when the tank is filled to thecapacity it is supposed to hold. This results eventually in a sludgeformation and a blocking of the vent line 80 so that the tank 76 isunable to breathe properly, resulting in the burner unit not functioningas it should. The vent line 3i) may also be coupled to one of theoutlets of one of the inner crossheads such as cross-head 4% and freedin the same manner as a suction line or return line without thenecessity of excavating said vent line 80.

The same process using the reservoir pressure tank It the air pressureline 3d, constant pressure inlet valve 31, inlet pipe 21, typical innercross-heads 40 or 53, variable delivery pump 64, the air suction ejector37, etc., may be employed to free plumbing waste lines which have becomeclogged from accumulation of coagulated grease and sludge without thenecessity of expensive repairs, replacements or disassembly.

An oil and chemical preheater and reheater 84 can be used in connectionwith my device through the medium of one of the outlets of one of theouter cross-heads 65. Said preheater and reheater 84 has an outer jacket8 5a and an inner jacket 85, the inner jacket 85 forming a container 86for receiving oil and chemical solution. Said inner jacket 85 isconcentrically located within the outer jacket 84, forming a watercontaining space 87 around all sides and the bottom of said inner jacket85. A heat exchanger coil 88 is positioned within said space 86 of saidinner jacket 85. Said heat exchanger coil 88 is provided with an inletconnection 89 and an outlet connection 90, said ends 89 and 90 beingfastened to a source of heat such as the steamer 70. A drain plug 91 ispositioned at the lower portion of the inner jacket 85 so that the oiland chemical solution may be drained out of the space 86 withoutdisturbing the water in the space 87.

By means of a hose from one of the outlets of a typical outer cross-head65, the preheated oil and chemical solution within the space 86 may bepumped into the particular line being cleaned by means of the reversiblevariable delivery pump 64, or the oil and chemical solution may bewithdrawn from the line being freed and redeposited in the space 86 ofthe preheater and reheater receptacle for reheating said oil andchemical before ramming it back into the line to be freed. Thisoperation is carried out entirely through the medium of the reversiblevariable delivery pump 64.

The preheater and reheater receptacle is provided with the water space87, in addition to the heat exchanger coil 88, so that the preheater andreheater receptacle may be set directly on an open flame, if desired, tospeed up the process of preheating or reheating the oil and chemicalsolution within the space 86. The preheater and reheater also serves asan auxiliary supply source for oil and chemical solution which isavailable in the event the lines being cleaned are so long that moresolution is required than can be held in the reservoir pressure andheating tank 10, or in the event that it is more convenient to draw oiland chemical from this source in connection with the operation of thereversible variable delivery pump in cleaning lines or in shooting afuel storage tank.

As shown in the drawings, my device is equipped with a screw type valveand a butterfly valve, coupled together in series wherever used tocontrol an outlet or inlet opening of my device. This arrangement hasbeen embodied in my device so that the operator will have a valveavailable for rapidly shutting off or opening an outlet or inlet bymeans of the butterfly type valve, and will also have available a sloweroperating but more positively locking screw type valve. It is understoodthat the arrangement as shown in the drawings is the preferableembodiment of the invention, but that I am not limiting myself to thisparticular embodiment. It is further understood that in the use andoperation of my equipment I first place the oil selected for theparticular cleaning operation or the said oil in combination wtih thedesludging chemical in the reservoir pressure and heating tank 10 and,if a greater quantity of oil and/ or chemical and oil solution isrequired, such additional supply is placed in the space 86 of thepre-heating and reheating receptacle shown in FIG. 7 of the drawings,which receptacle is a combination preheater, reheater and auxiliaryheater and auxiliary supply reservoir for oil or oil and chemicalsolution.

It is also understood that in connection with the operation of thereversible variable delivery pump 64 hot oil, chemicals and dissolvedsludge may be returned to the reservoir pressure and heating tank 10,the auxiliary heater and supply reservoir receptacle combination deviceshown in FIG. 7 of the drawings, or a waste barrel, selectively, or thatsaid oil, chemical and/or dissolved sludge may be deposited in a wastebarrel by means of the air ejector 37, 37a, 37b.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In line cleaning equipment: a reservoir pressure and heating tankprovided with a fill pipe and drain plug; a heat exchanger coil withinsaid tank; a source of heat connected to said heat exchanger coil; aninlet cross-head; a pressure inlet; an automatic safety pressure releasevalve and a constant pressure inlet valve fastened to said pressurereservoir and heating tank through said inlet crosshead; a source ofcompresesd air connected to said constant pressure inlet valve; atemperature gauge connected to said reservoir pressure and heating tank;outlet con nections at the lower ends of said reservoir pressure andheating tank; an inner cross-head, having multiple outlets connected toeach of said lower outlets of said reservoir pressure and heating tank;a pressure gauge attached to each of said inner cross-heads; an outercrosshead, having multiple outlets; variable delivery, reversible pumpsconnecting said inner cross-heads to said outer cross-heads; valvescontrolling each outlet of said reservoir pressure and heating tank;valves controlling each outlet of each of said cross-heads; an oil andchemical preheater and reheater connected to one of the outlets of saidouter cross-heads; and an oil ejector operable through one of theoutlets of said inlet cross-head.

2. In line cleaning equipment; a reservoir pressure and heating tankprovided with a fill pipe, a drain plug and a pressure inlet opening; aheat exchanger Within said reservoir pressure and heating tank; a sourceof heat connected to said heat exchanger; a vertical cross connected tothe pressure inlet opening of said reservoir pressure and heating tank;an inlet cross-head on one side of said vertical cross; valvular controlfastened to another side of said vertical cross and a pressure gauge onthe fourth side of said vertical cross; said inlet cross-head beingfastened to said vertical cross on one side; an automatic safetypressure valve attached to another side of said inlet crosshead;valvular control fastened to the inlet side and also valvular control onthe remaining outlet side of said inlet cross-head; a source ofcompressed air attached to said valvular control on the inlet side ofsaid inlet cross-head; a constant pressure inlet valve positionedbetween said valvular control on the inlet side of said inlet cross-headand said source of compressed air; a temperature gauge fastened to saidreservoir pressure and heating tank; an outlet positioned at the lowerportion of said reservoir pressure and heating tank; a valvular controlfastened to said outlet; an inner cross-head fastened to said valvularcontrol; a pressure gauge afiixed to said inner cross-head; a valvularcontrol attached to each of the outlets of said inner cross-head; a Tfastened to said valvular control of said cross-head, opposite thevalvular control from the outlet of said reservoir pressure and heatingtank; a valvular control fastened to the leg outlet of said T; areversible variable delivery pump fastened to said T on the sideopposite to the inner cross-head; an outer cross-head fastened to saidreversible variable delivery pump on the side opposite to the said innercross-head; valvular controls on each of the outlets of said outercross-head; an air ejector fastened to the valvular control of an outletof the inlet cross-head; a hose from the valvular control of one of theoutlets of said outer cross-head; and an auxiliary heater connected tosaid hose, said auxiliary heater being also an auxiliary supplyreceptacle.

3. In line cleaning equipment: a reservoir pressure and heating tankprovided with a fill pipe, a drain plug and a pressure inlet opening; aheat exchanger within said reservoir pressure and heating tank; a sourceof heat connected to said heat exchanger, a vertical cross connected tothe pressure inlet opening of said reservoir pressure and heating tank;an inlet cross-head on one side of said vertical cross; valvular controlfastened to another side of said vertical cross and a pressure gauge onthe fourth side of said vertical cross; said inlet cross-head beingfastened to said vertical cross on one side; an automatic safetypressure valve attached to another side of said inlet crosshead;valvular control fastened to the inlet side and also valvular control onthe remaining outlet side of said inlet cross-head; a source ofcompressed air attached to said valvular control on the inlet side ofsaid inlet cross-head; a constant pressure inlet valve positionedbetween said valvular control on the inlet side of said inlet cross-headand said source of compressed air; a temperature gauge fastened to saidreservoir pressure and heating tank; an outlet positioned at the lowerportion of said reservoir pressure and heating tank; a valvular controlfastened to said outlet; an inner cross-head fastened to said valvularcontrol; a pressure gauge affixed to said inner cross-head; a valvularcontrol attached to each of the outlets of said inner cross-head; a Tfastened to said valvular control of said cross-head, opposite thevalvular control from the outlet of said reservoir pressure and heatingtank; a valvular control fastened to the leg outlet of said T; areversible variable delivery pump fastened to said T on the sideopposite to the inner cross-head; an outer cross-head fastened to saidreversible variable delivery pump on the side opposite to the said innercross-head; valvular controls on each of the outlets of said outercross-head; an air ejector fastened to the valvular control of an outletof the inlet cross-head, or, selectively, to the valvular control of thesaid vertical cross and to the valvular control of an outlet of saidinner cross-head; a hose from the valvular control of one of the outletsof said outer cross-head; an auxiliary heater connected to said hose,said auxiliary heater being also an auxiliary supply receptacle; a tankshooting device, having a circular end with a plurality of holes in saidend connecting to a central hole concentric of the configuration of saidtank shooting device; a hose fastened to said tank shooting device onone end and to the valvular control of one of the outlets of said innercross-head on the other end; and a fuel oil supply tank preheater havinga spiralled end and attachments for fastening to said source of heat.

4. In equipment for cleaning sludge from lines of heating apparatus andother lines in which sludge accumulates in which any of the knowndesludging chemicals and/or hot oils, selectively, are used: a reservoirpressure and heating tank; a heat exchanger connected to a source ofheat and positioned within said reservoir pressure and heating tank;valvular outlet from said reservoir pressure and heating tank; an innercross-head, connected to said valvular outlet, said inner cross-headhaving multiple outlets with valvular controls on said outlets; an inletto said reservoir pressure and heating tank; a source of pressureconnected to said inlet, said inlet having a valvular control; a supplyline and a return line of a fuel oil heating apparatus connected,respectively, to two of said outlets of said inner cross-head; and anair type ejector connected to said source of pressure and to theremaining outlet of said inner cross-head.

5. In equipment for cleaning sludge from lines of heating apparatus andother lines in which sludge accumulates: an outer cross-head, havingmultiple outlets each with valvular control means; a reversible variabledelivery pump connected to the valvular means of one of said outlets ofsaid outer cross-head; an inner cross-head with multiple outlets eachwith valvular control means connecting by one of its said valvularcontrolled outlets to said reversible variable delivery pump on the sidethereof opposite from said outer cross-head and connectable by anotheroutlet of said inner cross-head to the supply line of a fuel oil heatingsystem, by a third outlet to the return line and by the remaining outletto an outlet of a reservoir pressure and heating tank, said reversiblevariable delivery pump alternately moving the desludging agents into andwithdrawing the said agents from one end of said supply line, returnline and reservoir pressure and heating tank; an auxiliary heater andsupply receptacle; a waste receptacle; a third receptacle; the remainingvalvular controlled outlets of said outer cross-head being connectedwith said auxiliary heater and supply receptacle, said waste receptacle,and said third receptacle.

6. In line cleaning equipment: a reservoir pressure and heating tankhaving an outlet; a heat exchanger positioned within said reservoirpressure and heating tank; an inner cross-head with multiple valvularlycontrolled outlets connected to the outlet of said reservoir pressureand heating tank; a reversible variable delivery pump connected to anoutlet of said inner cross-head; an outer cross-head with multiplevalvularly controlled outlets connected to said reversible variabledelivery pump; a pre-heating and reheating device connected to an outletof said outer crosshead; a source of heat connected to said reservoirpressure and heating tank and to said pre-heating and reheating device;and the remaining outlets of said inner and outer cross-heads beingconnected to a supply line, a return line and a vent line of a pipesystem and to a waste receptacle, thereby permitting alternateintroduction of a cleaning agent into, and its withdrawal from, saidlines and its deposit in said receptacle by the operation of saidreversible variable delivery pump.

7. In line cleaning equipment: a reservoir pressure and heating tankhaving an outlet; a source of pressure connected to said reservoirpressure and heating tank; an inner cross-head with multiple valvularlycontrolled outlets connected to the outlet of said reservoir pressureand heating tank; a pump connected to an outlet of said inner crosshead;an outer cross-head with multiple valvularly controlled outletsconnected to said pump; a pro-heating and reheating device connected toan outlet of said outer cross-head; a source of heat connected to saidreservoir pressure and heating tank and to said pre-heating andreheating device; and the remaining outlets of said inner and outercross-heads being connectible to a supply line, a return line and a ventline of a pipe system and to a waste receptacle, thereby permittingalternate introduction of a cleaning agent into, and its withdrawalfrom, said lines and receptacle.

(References on following page) References Cited in the file of thispatent UNITED STATES PATENTS Miller Sept. 12, 1916 Lape Aug. 13, 1935Powell Nov. 19, 1940 10 Keller Jan. 4, 1944 Jaffa May 25, 1948 AldermanNov. 23, 1948 Abbott Dec. 11. 1951 Slover July 14, 1959

7. IN LINE CLEANING EQUIPMENT: A RESERVOIR PRESSURE AND HEATING TANKHAVING AN OUTLET; A SOURCE OF PRESSURE CONNECTED TO SAID RESERVOIRPRESSURE AND HEATING TANK; AN INNER CROSS-HEAD WITH MULTIPLE VALVULARLYCONTROLLED OUTLETS CONNECTED TO THE OUTLET OF SAID RESERVOIR PRESSUREAND HEATING TANK; A PUMP CONNECTED TO AN OUTLET OF SAID INNER CROSSHEAD;AN OUTER CROSS-HEAD WITH MULTIPLE VALVULARLY CONTROLLED OUTLETSCONNECTED TO SAID PUMP; A PRE-HEATING AND REHEATING DEVICE CONNECTED TOAN OUTLET OF SAID OUTER CROSS-HEAD; A SOURCE OF HEAT CONNECTED TO SAIDRESERVOIR PRESSURE AND HEATING TANK AND TO SAID PRE-HEATING ANDREHEATING DEVICE; AND THE REMAINING OUTLETS OF SAID INNER AND OUTERCROSS-HEADS BEING CONNECTIBLE TO A SUPPLY LINE, A RETURN LINE AND A VENTLINE OF A PIPE SYSTEM AND TO A WASTE RECEPTACLE, THEREBY PERMITTINGALTERNATE INTRODUCTION OF A CLEANING AGENT INTO, AND ITS WITHDRAWALFROM, SAID LINES AND RECEPTACLE.